American Camp Association | Summer camps enrich children's lives!

Camp is just around the corner, and you’ve still got to pack! You might be a pro at packing for camp, but there are always a few things you might forget. That's why The Clorox Company is partnering with the ACA to bring you a simple list of great suggestions for what counselors and staff should make sure is on their packing list this summer. Take a look – it just might save you from leaving something really important off your list!

The Clorox Company

Learn the skills you need to succeed. Camping Magazine is your primary source for the most recent trends in the camp industry,  the latest research in the field of youth development, critical management tools,  and innovative programming ideas. The July/August 2010 issue features articles that address programming, history, 20/20 Toolbox, and more.

Children and youth need a community that:  encourages achievement and builds self-esteem; promotes healthy lifestyles, fitness, and activity; teaches in a classroom without walls; instills appreciation, respect, and responsibility for the natural world around them; and inspires the confidence and courage to become the leaders of tomorrow.

A Voice for Excellence

ACA's Because of Camp…™ outdoor advertising campaign officially launched in early January. Since that time, orders have been arriving daily for billboards, posters, and transit shelters. Several orders have been placed already, and are being shipped to vendors nationwide. Visit ACA's Say It Big Web page to view a map of advertising placements as they are confirmed.

Preserving the rich history of the camp experience is essential for the future. The American Camp Association (ACA) is proud to celebrate our 100th Anniversary in 2010 and the 150th Anniversary of Organized Camping in 2011, and to honor our past with this Web-based tribute.

Celebrate ACA's 100th Anniversary

Find a Camp

Looking for a summer camp? Search over 2,400 ACA-Accredited camps.

Find a Job

Find the perfect summer or year-round camp job. Need Staff? Check Out ACA’s Staff Recruitment Solutions!

Join ACA

Join today and be an integral part of an evolving, versatile, and vibrant organization of people with knowledge to share.


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Meningitis: Is Your Camp Educated?

Meningococcal disease, commonly called meningitis, is a serious bacterial infection that can cause death or disability within hours of its first symptoms.  While children don’t get meningitis simply from attending camp, certain factors often associated with camp, such as communal living or sharing of personal items (e.g., water bottles and drinking glasses), may put certain campers at increased risk of infection.

The American Camp Association (ACA) supports the National Meningitis Association (NMA) in developing resources for camps to help educate camp counselors and staff about meningitis and prevention, as well as to help recognize its symptoms to ensure the health and safety of the camp community.

Resources Available from NMA
More information about meningitis, as well as additional resources for camp and families are available from the National Meningitis Association.
Information from the CDC about Meningococcal Disease
View the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for vaccinations

What is Meningococcal Meningitis?
Meningococcal [Pronounced: MEN-IN-JOE-KOK-UL] meningitis is a bacterial infection that causes swelling of the tissues around the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis, or causes blood poisoning, called meningococcemia [Pronounced: MEN-IN-JOE-KOK-SEE-ME-A].  It is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the U.S. among toddlers, adolescents, and young adults and strikes nearly 3,000 Americans each year.

The disease is spread from person-to-person through air droplets and close contact, such as coughing, kissing and sharing utensils or water bottles. Early symptoms of meningitis are very similar to the flu or a cold, so the disease is difficult to accurately and quickly diagnose. First symptoms may include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, and confusion. After the disease progresses a purplish rash may appear.

The good news is that the majority of meningitis cases (up to 83%) may potentially be prevented through immunization. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination for pre-teens aged 11-12 years to help prevent meningitis. For those not previously vaccinated, health officials recommend receiving the vaccine before entering high school (about age 15) or for college-bound freshmen, if planning to live in dormitories. In addition, New York State requires overnight camps to provide information to prospective campers and their parents about meningococcal meningitis and prevention.

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American Camp Association | Summer camps enrich children's lives!

Camp is just around the corner, and you’ve still got to pack! You might be a pro at packing for camp, but there are always a few things you might forget. That's why The Clorox Company is partnering with the ACA to bring you a simple list of great suggestions for what counselors and staff should make sure is on their packing list this summer. Take a look – it just might save you from leaving something really important off your list!

The Clorox Company

Learn the skills you need to succeed. Camping Magazine is your primary source for the most recent trends in the camp industry,  the latest research in the field of youth development, critical management tools,  and innovative programming ideas. The July/August 2010 issue features articles that address programming, history, 20/20 Toolbox, and more.

Children and youth need a community that:  encourages achievement and builds self-esteem; promotes healthy lifestyles, fitness, and activity; teaches in a classroom without walls; instills appreciation, respect, and responsibility for the natural world around them; and inspires the confidence and courage to become the leaders of tomorrow.

A Voice for Excellence

ACA's Because of Camp…™ outdoor advertising campaign officially launched in early January. Since that time, orders have been arriving daily for billboards, posters, and transit shelters. Several orders have been placed already, and are being shipped to vendors nationwide. Visit ACA's Say It Big Web page to view a map of advertising placements as they are confirmed.

Preserving the rich history of the camp experience is essential for the future. The American Camp Association (ACA) is proud to celebrate our 100th Anniversary in 2010 and the 150th Anniversary of Organized Camping in 2011, and to honor our past with this Web-based tribute.

Celebrate ACA's 100th Anniversary

Find a Camp

Looking for a summer camp? Search over 2,400 ACA-Accredited camps.

Find a Job

Find the perfect summer or year-round camp job. Need Staff? Check Out ACA’s Staff Recruitment Solutions!

Join ACA

Join today and be an integral part of an evolving, versatile, and vibrant organization of people with knowledge to share.